Your digestive system is home to a vast community of microorganisms. Together, they form what scientists call the gut microbiome.
These microorganisms do not simply live inside the gut. They interact continuously with the human body.
They can produce and transform substances that influence metabolism, immune responses and communication between the gut and other organs.
Your microbiome is shaped by your life
Your gut microbiome is not completely fixed.
Diet, medications, lifestyle, health and environmental exposures can all influence the microorganisms living in the gut.
The relationship also works in the other direction. Changes in the microbiome and the substances produced by microorganisms can affect processes within the body.
This makes the gut microbiome an important connection between our environment and our biology.
What happens as we get older?
The gut microbiome changes throughout life.
But age is only part of the explanation. Changes in health, diet, medications and other aspects of life can also affect the microbiome as we grow older.
And an age-related change is not necessarily a harmful change.
Research shows that some microbiome patterns seen with increasing age are associated with poorer health, while others are seen in people experiencing healthier ageing.
Why is the microbiome important for longevity?
One reason is particularly interesting: the microbiome can change.
Unlike many aspects of our biology, its composition and function can be influenced by factors such as diet and lifestyle.
Scientists are therefore studying whether understanding and modifying the gut microbiome could become part of strategies to support healthier ageing.
The science is still developing. But the microbiome is increasingly recognized as an important part of the complex relationship between our lifestyle, environment and long-term health.
